ESPN insider: D-backs have a couple of sleepers

Every Diamondbacks fan knows the names Upton, Young,
Kennedy, Hudson and Montero and Drew.

Most know the names Parra, Goldschmidt, Hill and Roberts.

But what about Holmberg and Marshall?

According to ESPN
MLB insider Keith Law, pitchers Evan Marshall and
David Holmberg are sleepers to watch for in Arizona.

In an ESPN Insider piece, Law wrote:

Reliever Evan Marshall might not qualify for next year’s
list if he’s as good in 2012 as he was in 2011 because
he’ll be in the majors instead of on my rankings. Left-
hander David Holmberg, acquired with Daniel Hudson in the
Edwin Jackson trade, doesn’t have one knockout pitch but
can show four above-average offerings with plus command.

Marshall, 21, completed his first professional season last
year, compiling a 1.16 ERA over 31 innings pitched for the
D-backs’ Single-A, High-A and Double-A affiliates. He
struck out 31 and walked just seven. A right-hander, he
could be on the fast track to the Majors, which could be
beneficial for an already solid bullpen.

Holmberg, on the other hand, has seen his name pop up a
few times when people have discussed Arizona’s farm
system. A 20-year-old lefty, he’s compiled a 3.84 ERA
across three Minor League seasons, finishing last year
with High-A Visalia.

He’s struck out 270 batters over 272 innings, and while
promising, is probably still a season or two away from
reaching the Big Leagues.

The Diamondbacks boast one of the game’s best farm
systems, and prospects like Marshall and Holmberg are
just a couple of the players who could be donning Sedona
Red in the near future.

Just don’t say no one told you about them.

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